Page:The Early English Organ Builders and their work.djvu/51

 of the clergy of the Lower House, within the province of Canterbury, pronounced "that synging and saying of mass, matins or even-song, is but roaring, howling, whisteling, mummyng, conjuring, and jogelyng, and the playing at the organys a foolish vanity."

One word more about John Coke, the "organ-player." He made himself useful to the Mayor, when there were no poor laws, in carrying out charitable objects. The Town Account Book of Lyme Regis has this entry, under the date 1553:—"John Coke found [i.e., provided with all necessaries] the poor children and the clerk." Let us hope that this was not a solitary instance of good feeling, and that worthy John Coke's example was not lost upon his brother organists of the neighbouring localities.

There was an organ in the parish church of Doncaster prior to the magnificent instrument destroyed in the fire; for in the churchwardens' accounts of 1569, Mr. Fenton was paid "13s. 4d. for an